GIPSY MUSIC AT HAWERA

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 10

GIPSY MUSIC AT HAWERA

ROMANY VIOLINIST IN STREETS. CHEQUERED CAREER OF PLAYER. Of pure Romany gipsy blood, Harry Ingram, who has been playing his violin in the streets of Hawera for the past few days, has had a chequered career. Born near the New Forest, England, in 1909, he has been wandering round the world since he was 13 years of age.

He was one of the 500 Romanies in England and spent his childhood touring England, Scotland and Wales in a gipsy caravan. At the age of 13 he decided to see the world and stowed away in a boat bound for Ireland. He tramped that country with his violin and then returned to London, where he was a street violinist. Becoming interested in the stage, he secured several minor parts, and at this time attended night school to advance his education. After touring England with a show he secured a job with a dramatic company, first as a super and then as understudy to the leading man. When he was 18 years old he had his first chance for an important part. The leading man got drunk one night and Ingram took his part as Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII. Tiring of the stage he went to the Continent, where he was a waiter at Paris, a tramp at Berlin, a tout at Monte Carlo and a valet at Vienna. The last employer took him across to the United States with him. The yams of hoboes in New York, when he was there on holiday, tempted him to that very literal walk of life, and he tramped the States and went on into Canada. A gold prospecting venture left him in low-water financially until a successful poker game netted him 300 dollars. He secured a mail contract from Nome to Dawson City by dag sledge and found a partner to provide the sledge. At the end of six months he sold his.share, purchased a horse and set off for South America. He was a cowboy on a cattle ranch there for a time but soon tired of the life and, returned to the States.

He secured a job on a boat going to Australia and after roaming about in that country for a While was employed by J. C. Williamson Ltd. He abandoned this afterwards for dance work and prospered until the advent of the • “talkies” spoilt the business. Four years ago he left for New Zealand, where he started off as dancer. That work failing, he went bush whacking and, on returning to civilisation he married. For the past two years he has been tramping with his violin and has travelled all over the country. HAWERA GOLF CLUB DRAW. MEDAL ROUND PLAY TO-DAY. The draw for the Hawera Golf Club’s medal round to-day is:— 12.15, Whitehead, Lawn, J. L. Thompson; 12.20, ladies; 12.30, ladies; 12.34, HayMackenzie, Bull, Pratt; 12.39, Sandford, Dunlop, Jones; 12.44, Anderson, Tonks, O’Callaghan; 12.49, W. O. Williams, Cambie, Potter; 12.54, Homer, Robinson, Wake; 12.59, McDonald, North,‘H. Sagar; 1.4, L. Walker, A. Walker, G. WiUiams; 1.9, Sturrock, Lennon, Jordan; 1.14, Brathwaite, J. Tarrant, Fountaine; 1.19, Stead, Lewes, Gilligan; 1.24, Giblin, G. Ryan, Ogle; 1.29, Wames, Harrison, A. E. Tarrant; 1.34, A. Sagar, Turner, Hulbert; 1.39, D. C. Ryan, Ritchie, Tennent; 1.44, McAnerin, Slater, Vinnicombe; 1.49, Chisholm, Fry, Caselberg; 1.54, W. S. Gibson, Walkley, Elliott; 1.59, ladies; 2.4, Coleman, Bright, Hill; 2.9, Meuli, Fletcher, Douglas; 2.14, J. Dash, W. W. Gibson, Lloyd; 2.19, Fyson, Maunder, Young, Claringbold; 2.25, ladies. BOYS AND GIRLS’ CLUES. ITINERARY FOR JUDGING. The judging of the vegetable garden competition in connection with the South Taranaki Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Club work will take place next week. The itinerary arranged is:— April 30: Tawhiti (six entries), 9 a.m.; Turuturu (four entries), 11 a.m.; Normanby (seven entries), 10.30 a.m. May 1: —Manaia (10), 9 a.m.; • Kaponga (1), 11.30 a.m.; Stratford (6), 1.15 p.m. May 2:—Eltham (12), 9.30 a.m.; Eltham Convent (3), 1.15 p.m. May 3:—Hawera (18), 9 a.m. KAPONGA FARMERS’ UNION. SUCCESS OF FIRST SOCIAL. The Kaponga Farmers’ Union held its first social on Thursday night, when there was a large attendance representative of the district, including members of associate branches at Mahgatoki, Lowgarth, Matapu, Okaiawa and Auroa. The South Taranaki provincil president, Mr. E. J. Betts, was also present and congratulated the youngest branch on its successful evening. He hoped there would be many more to follow. Presentations of field competition certificates were made by Mr. E. K. Cameron, secretary of the South Taranaki executive. He referred to the great value of the contests and said it was the good farmer' who was going to win through the difficult times. He made an appeal for support for the boys and girls’ clubs. The certificates were presented as follows: — Mangolds: J. W. J. Gai’diner 1, S. J. Hollard 2, J. P. Gibson 3. Swedes: Grace Bros. 1, E. W. Snowden 2, ,D. P. Malone 3. Carrots: J. Bickford and Son 1, L. Chamberlain 2. Stack ensilage: J. P. Gibson 1, F. Zimmerman 2, D. P. Malone 3. Meadow hay: A. E. Jackson 1, D. P. Malone 2, Grace Bros. 3. Pit ensilage: C. N. Gordge 1, C. A. Thurston 2. Chou moellier: Grace Bros. 1. Dance music was played by Jack Hooker’s Merrymakers, and extras by Miss D. Mellow, Mrs. Evans and Mrs. A. A. Piper. A Monte Carlo dance was won by Mrs. Dempsey and partner and a statue log cabin dance by Mr. G. Guthrie and Miss Knight. Mr. W. Marr was master of ceremonies. HAWERA RIFLE CLUB SHOOT. The Hawera Defence Rifle Club fired over 300,. 500 and 600 yards, with ten shots at. each, for the first round of the Gerrand Cup. E. J. Booth was top scorer with 125, which wins another’ spoon of the minus four mark. ’ Conditions were extremely difficult owing to a fish-tail wind. The scores are:—

GENERAL ITEMS. Liberation of Trout. The Hawera Acclimatisation Society this year made the bulk of its liberations in the upper reaches of the streams, as the council, following the practice of fish naturally spawning, adopted ,■ the opinion that fry were sure to do better in the shallower waters and that as they matured they would instinctively drop down to the lower reaches of the rivers. Tawhiti Kitchen Evening. About 150 guests were present at a kitchen evening at Tawhiti on Tuesday, arranged by Misses P. McGlashan and E. Campbell, in honour of Miss Muriel Reid and Mr. J. Peterson, who are shortly to be married. The evening was devoted to dancing, competitions, vocal and elocutionary items. Supper was served by the hostesses, assisted by friends, after which Miss Reid and Mr. Peterson briefly returned thanks. Mr. A. Campbell also thanked the guests on behalf of Misses Campbell and McGlashan for attending in such large numbers., Dance music was played by Miss McGlashan, Mrs. A- Campbell, Messrs. H. thrush and A. Campbell, the latter also acting as master of ceremonies. Vocal solos were sung by Miss J. McGlashan, and elocutionary items were rendered by Miss M. Leggett.. A happy evening concluded at midnight with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Hawera’s Work for Missions. St. Mary’s, Hawera, was the seventh on the list of parishes contributing to Church of England mission funds last year. Larger contributions came from All Saints, Palmerston North, St. Paul’s, Wellington, Wanganui, St. Mark’s, Karori, and St. Peter’s, Wellington. Trains Disturb Church Service. The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Mary’s Church, Hawera, decided to ask the railway department to abate the annoyance caused by trains shunting over the Tawhiti crossing during Sunday service. Hawera Badminton Clubs. The badminton season has been begun again in Hawera, which, with four clubs, is becoming quite a stronghold of the game. Probably neaiTy 200 players will take part in weekly play this season. More inter-club games are likely as the young Hawera club is finding its feet, and is better able to meet the older established Glenhohn and St. Mary’s clubs. The game is not very extensively played by the Services Sports Club, which lacks good courts. As was the case last year, greatest progress is to be expected from the comparatively new players. Last season Miss Ekdahl and Kemp were two outstanding new players who could give the experienced ones hard games. Kemp, in the Hawera club championship, beat Hewitt, a former New Zealand doubles champion, which would indicate a satisfactory standard for a first year player. In allround strength Glenholm has rather the better men players, though Meuli, Hawera's club captain, is the best player in the district. Whitehead Round in 73., The best round in the competition was H. G. Whitehead's 73, one better than the par for the course. He failed to get his three at the first and struck trouble at the fourth, Hummocks, but otherwise played fair golf with an occasional birdie. Excluding the first four holes, he was three under bogey, his card reading. Out: 4 5 563434 4—38. I In: 35344344 5 —35 73. His score in the eclectic was 63, but two others were better.

Hawera Links in Good Order. The perfect condition of the Hawera club’s course was reflected in the fine scoring in the eclectic handicap. The fairways still have a lot of run in them, while, on the other hand, recent rains have taken the fire out of the greens. The eighth and 17th holes are being repaired, temporary holes being provided, and others will be attended to as convenient. Alpine Club Evening. The first, of the Mount Egmont Alpine Club’s evenings was held on Thursday, when there was an attendance of nearly 40. The evening was spent playing pingpong, quoits and tenequoit. The president (Mr. L. O. Hooker) and the club captain (Mr. Rod. -Syme) welcomed old and new members and outlined the coming season’s activities. A competition was won by Miss B. Stevens.

300 500 600 Hp. yds yds yds Tl. E. J. Booth , .... scr 41 45 39 125 > H. Spurdie .,,. 64 36 41 39 122-i R. Evans .... .’42 44 32 1183 M. Rowe .... 13J 22 42 18 95? F. Greenhill .... .... 15J 25 36 22 98j G. Cress .... _ _ 47 42 89